Remarks below are were written by late Dr. Ian Stevenson, the founder of research division and the author of many books on the subject of research into cases of past life, subconscious mind and reincarnation type.
People who place little or no importance to their dreams—recognizing that most dreams are simply expressions of the subconscious mind with no connection to external reality— often assume that whatever comes up during hypnosis must be entirely accurate and meaningful.
However, the hypnotic state shares many similarities while dreaming, even if it is not exactly the same. In both states, the subconscious mind is freed from the usual constraints of conscious thought, allowing it to express itself more freely—sometimes in dramatic ways, such as the emergence of a new “personality.”
If a hypnotist instructs the subject—either directly or indirectly—to “return to another time and place,” the subconscious mind may respond by creating a vivid character that seems to belong to a different historical period. These so-called “past life personalities” can be highly convincing, both to the person experiencing them and to those observing..
Research by Baker, and by Nicholas Spanos and his colleagues, has demonstrated just how strongly a hypnotist’s suggestions can shape the content and characteristics of these imagined personalities, aligning them with the cues given during the session.
The truth is, most so-called “past life personalities” that come up during hypnosis are no more real than our dreams. They can feel incredibly vivid and even emotionally powerful, but that doesn’t make them factual memories. Often, the historical details people describe are actually bits and pieces they’ve picked up through books, movies, TV, or even casual conversation—information that gets stored away in the subconscious. The person may not remember where they learned these things, but with the right kind of follow-up hypnosis, those sources can sometimes be traced.
Studies by researchers like E. Zolik, and Kampman and Hirvenoja, have shown just how easily our minds can piece together these narratives from prior knowledge, often without us even realizing it. So even when a person feels strong emotions during a regression session, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re reliving a real previous life—it just means the experience felt real to them, much like a dream can.
And while it’s true that some people experience healing—emotional or even physical—after a regression session, that doesn’t prove the experience was of an actual past life. People often improve through a wide variety of therapies, and those benefits might come more from the general effects of being heard, being guided, and simply believing in the process than from the specific technique itself.
It’s worth noting that even very young children who recall verifiable past lives—cases that are far more rare and compelling—still often suffer from lingering fears or phobias tied to those past experiences. Just remembering the supposed root of a problem doesn’t necessarily solve it.
So, for anyone considering hypnotic regression, it’s worth asking: Would recalling a past life—even if it felt real—actually help me deal with what I’m facing today? Would remembering be enough to heal the pain or confusion I’m experiencing?
This is a complex topic, and a short explanation can’t cover all the layers. But I’ll say this—occasionally, something genuinely curious can surface during a regression. There are rare cases where people speak a foreign language they’ve never consciously studied, a phenomenon known as xenoglossy. These are incredibly rare, but they do raise interesting questions.
Xenoglossy is the ability to speak, write, or understand a language one has not learned naturally. (may be paranormal)
Still in some cases, the “past life” personality has lingered even after the session ended, leaving the person stuck in an altered state for days. That’s not something to take lightly.
Some caution applies to other methods of supposed spirit communication—like Ouija (aghories) boards, planchettes, or automatic writing. In most cases, people are simply tapping into the subconscious, their own or someone else’s, without realizing it. There’s a real risk of self-deception, especially when someone becomes convinced they’re talking to a spirit. Once again, while the majority of these experiences are just that—experiences, not evidence—every now and then, something happens that makes us pause and wonder.
A guided hypnotic regression session designed to access and explore memories from previous lifetimes for personal insight and healing.
